| The first excerpt represents the past or something you must release, and is drawn from The Lesser Bourgeoisie by Honore de Balzac: disgusts her, and she won't take soup."
"Well," said Cerizet, "try panada. Does she like sweet things?"
"Oh, yes!" cried the poor girl, her face brightening, "she adores
them. Would chocolate be good for her?"
"Certainly," replied Cerizet, "but without vanilla; vanilla is very
heating."
"Then I'll get what they call health-chocolate," said Lydie, with all
the intonations of a mother, listening to the doctor as to a god who
reassured her. "Uncle," she added, "please ring for Bruneau, and tell
him to go to Marquis at once and get some pounds of that chocolate."
"Bruneau has just gone out," said her guardian; "but there's no hurry,
|
The second excerpt represents the present or the deciding factor of the moment, and is drawn from The Riverman by Stewart Edward White: delicate green of spring, showered from the hand of the passing
Sower, sprinkles the tops of the trees, and gradually sifts down
through the branches; the great, beautiful silver clouds sail down
the horizon like ships of a statelier age, as totally without actual
existence to these men. The logs, the river--those are enough to
strain all the faculties a man possesses, and more.
So when, as now, a chance combination of circumstances brings them
leisure to look about them, the forest and the world of out-of-doors
comes to them with a freshness impossible for the city dweller to
realise. The surroundings are accustomed, but they bring new
messages. To most of them, these impressions never reach the point
|
The third excerpt represents the future or something you must embrace, and is drawn from The Importance of Being Earnest by Oscar Wilde: an engagement? How dare you? This is no time for wearing the
shallow mask of manners. When I see a spade I call it a spade.
GWENDOLEN. [Satirically.] I am glad to say that I have never seen
a spade. It is obvious that our social spheres have been widely
different.
[Enter MERRIMAN, followed by the footman. He carries a salver,
table cloth, and plate stand. CECILY is about to retort. The
presence of the servants exercises a restraining influence, under
which both girls chafe.]
MERRIMAN. Shall I lay tea here as usual, Miss?
CECILY. [Sternly, in a calm voice.] Yes, as usual. [MERRIMAN
|
